Paediatrics Training in Northern Queensland

Transcript for Paediatrics Training in Northern Queensland

[Peaceful music plays in the background]

[Text on screen] Specialty Training in Northern Queensland, Paediatrics

>>> Dr Guan Koh:

[Text on screen] Dr Guan Koh, Clinical Director of Neonatology.

I grew up in a town called Kuching the capital of Sarawak. Initially I wanted to be an ophthalmologist actually, but I got attracted to Paediatrics, so I trained as a paediatrician and then sub specialized in neonatal paediatrics, which is what I am now. It's a great privilege to be working with babies who have got the maximum potential in terms of contribution to life. I've looked after over 25,000 babies.

>>> Dr Kirsty Devine:

[Text on screen] Dr Kirsty Devine, Consultant Neonatologist.

We look after an extremely large area of very rural and very remote communities. You can go to any hospital anywhere, in any developed country, and you can look after children with bronchiolitis, or kids with asthma, or children with diabetes. But you come up here, and suddenly you've got a whole different group of children that you're looking after with conditions that you have only read about in books before.

>>> Dr Natalee Williamson:

[Text on screen] Dr Natalee Williamson, General Paediatrics, Advanced Trainee.

The lifestyle of paediatrics is attractive, the kids, the fun; you can't come to work grumpy because you'll have a really bad day because all the kids will be grumpy.

So the Basic Paediatric Training Network; there's three hubs in Queensland and Townsville is one of them, so that's the network I've gone through. But we actually now have a North Queensland Advanced Training Network for General Paediatrics as well. So you can actually now complete your Advanced Training in centres in North Queensland and not need to relocate.

>>> Dr Guan Koh:

We have about 850 babies coming through the uni. Trainees get a lot of hands-on experience and they end up doing a lot more practical procedures here than in the big centres.

>>> Dr Natalee Williamson:

Every kid whose sick who walks in ED comes under our general paediatrics team so you see everything. But I think if you're in the city, a lot of the fascinating kids with pathologies that are a bit more rare, a bit more unique, get siphoned straight under the sub specialty teams. The other thing I get more here than I've got in other sites is you work with the same bosses all the time, you get to know them a lot better. Even as a junior register you have a lot of consultant contact.

>>> Dr Kirsty Devine:

Townville Hospital runs a neonatal retrieval service. You get to take your intensive care services to an incredibly remote area where you're on your own, you have a consultant available by phone, and you really do get to put your training to the test.

>>> Dr Jason Yates:

[Text on screen] Dr Jason Yates, Paediatric Endocrinologist.

Your ability to do things without being handheld essentially, I think, is one of the big differences. When you work in a regional centre you have to make decisions, and you have to own them and you actually you become a lot closer to the families and the patients, and you're much more likely to have that continuity. You'll see a family for the first time you put a plan in place, and then you'll actually see them again and see you know have I actually made the right call. You get lots of positive stories that come out of that.

>>> Dr Natalee Williamson:

You admit the child yourself, you review the child, you meet the family, you get to know them well, and you can call the boss from home, but you're essentially managing the kids. I think it's just really nice when they start getting better, and you realize you've actually made an impact, and you'll see them again in clinic in 6 weeks.

>>> Dr Kirsty Devine:

I love mountain bike riding and I try after work a couple of times a week to get out on the trails just at the back of the hospital here. Reinforcing just how unique this place is. North Queensland is a tropical paradise.

>>> Dr Natalee Williamson:

If you're wanting good core basic training so you can manage and recognize sick kids, I think North Queensland is a good option.

>>> Dr Guan Koh:

Enthusiasm, innovation, family-cantered, respectful, happy, and proud.

[Text on screen] Explore specialty training opportunities in northern Queensland. nqrth.edu.au

The Paediatric training network enables registrars to complete the majority of training in norther Queensland at Cairns, Mackay, Mount Isa and Townsville.

Paediatric advanced training can also be completed in northern Queensland.

This video was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health as part of the Regional Training Hubs initiative. Produced in partnership with northern Queensland health care providers and James Cook University.

[James Cook University crest appears on screen] Northern Queensland Regional Training Hubs. A network of medical training opportunities. nqrth.edu.au

End of transcript

Last updated: September 2024